Shout out to Rani-Girl and Angy!

To answer the question posed by a guest, I get my non-English words and phrases from Google Translate. It can be a bit sketchy, so if something doesn't come out right I apologize.

To those who are native speakers or are fluent in a language that I use occasionally: If I get something wrong please point it out! I'm OCD about accuracy, and while I find it embarrassing I would rather have it pointed out so I can fix it. If not for my sake do it for the sake of the language. It does not deserve to be butchered, intentionally or otherwise.

Enjoy!

Lovina kept her distance from Antonio after that morning, going so far as to walk from one side of the ship to the other if he so much as wandered in her direction. He seemed to have caught on, and was 'chasing' her around the deck when the lookout leaned down from his perch.

"Captain Carriedo! There's a ship to our starboard forward!"

"Thank you, Pablo," called Antonio, stopping to look up. "Do you recognize it yet?"

"No, sir."

"Tell me when you do."

"Aye, sir!"

Lovina peered in the general direction of the ship, as the recent side she'd retreated to was starboard, but she was able to make out a vague shape, little more. Antonio joined her, but this time she decided to stay put, folding her arms and glaring at him. If he noticed he didn't let on.

It was some time before the lookout shouted, "She's flying Gilbert's flag, sir!"

Lovina frowned. Who was Gilbert?

Whoever he was, it made Antonio happy. A wide smile spread across his face, and he laughed. "Ah, good! It's been months since we've seen them."

The crew seemed to be taking this as a good sign too, but Lovina was getting more annoyed by the minute. She really, really hated being left in the dark. When Antonio turned to leave, she grabbed a fistful of his sleeve. "Who the hell is Gilbert?"

He turned, smiling at her. "He is a very good friend of mine. Now let go of me, Lovi, I need to hide the rum."

Lovina frowned, reluctantly obeying, though she followed him as he went below decks. "You have friends? And why are you hiding the rum? You don't drink it."

"No, but my crew does, and it appeases them. Gilbert goes through it like you wouldn't believe, and as much as I like him I'd rather not let him drink a week's worth of rum in one hour."

Rolling her eyes, Lovina said, "Your only friend is a drunk. Delightful."

"Gilbert is not a drunk," chided Antonio, making his way to the bottom deck where the stores were. "He actually has a very high tolerance. And he's not my only friend, Lovi. Believe it or not people usually like me when I'm not on a raid."

Lovina snorted, something she'd learned and used to great effect to irritate her nurses over the years. The protests of "it's not ladylike!" had just urged her to use it more. "I doubt that, bastardo."

As Antonio opened a false bottom, rolling barrels of rum into it, he chuckled. "It's true, Lovi."

Two of the crew had followed them down, helping him to stow away the rum. One of them chipped in, "Sure is, miss. The captain's damn popular with the ladies. When we dock in Tortuga just ask any o' them from the br-

"Julio," interrupted Antonio in an eerily cheerful tone. "Remember that new rule about a civil tongue?"

Julio clamped his mouth shut. Lovina scowled at his captain. "No, I don't mind. What was he about to say? Brothels?"

Antonio shut the false bottom, and gave the two crewmen a look that sent them scurrying. Once they were gone Antonio sighed. "They said I was popular, not that made use of their services, Lovi. Besides, that was before I knew you."

Lovina snorted, stomping towards the stairs. "Men. You're acting like I care, you stupid bastard. Why should I? I'm only here because I have to be." She slammed the door in his face, but he caught it, keeping pace with her as she climbed the steps. Okay, so there was a small grain of hurt very, very far down, but she quickly squashed it. He was a pirate. Murder and rum and sex were in the job description.

"Come now, Lovi," chided Antonio. "You're not warming up to me yet?"

"What is there to warm up to?" she demanded, stomping out onto the deck and making for the cabin.

Antonio waited until they were off the main deck to protest, "I thought the game would help."

Lovina slammed the door, dropping the bar moments before Antonio tried to open it.

"I thought you said you didn't care, Lovi," he called through it.

"I don't! I just don't want that drunk bastard anywhere near me!" she shouted back.

"I told you he's not a drunk," protested Antonio.

"Go away!"

She was genuinely surprised when he did. Lovina huffed, glowering around the room. After a moment her eyes fell on the bookcase.

Hesitating, looking back to make sure the door was securely bared in place, Lovina slowly made her way over to the bookcase. She tugged the book of nautical maps down, laying it down on the desk again. Opening it back to the lumped page, she tugged the map out again.

Lovina laid it out over the desk, smoothing out the creases. Giving one last glance at the door, she focused on the map. The scribbles seemed to mostly be in Spanish, but then she could speak it as well as she could English.

At first even once she did decipher a few sentences she wasn't sure of what she was reading. 'Queen's Dogs Favorite Route', 'Unpredictable Storms', 'High Reefs, Tide Won't Matter'? They were clipped sentences, usually warnings. There were a few good notes though, too. 'Smooth Winter Sailing', 'Friendly Indians, Trade Rum', and 'Best Wine Trade'. On the back there was even more, but she only recognized a few of the names listed as ports or trading posts. Each name had a similar scribbling, a warning or a reminder of how best to deal with the people.

Lovina was scanning over it, doing less reading as she searched for an indicator of its importance. She could see why Antonio would be protective of it, any sailor worth his salt would kill to get a map like this, but he'd been outright furious. Why?

At the very bottom of the back, she got her answer. Crammed in as though it was squeezed in the tiny space as an afterthought, was a name. 'Alejandro Carriedo'.

Lovina stared at the name. She didn't have to ask who it was. It would certainly explain why Antonio had gotten so upset. This map was precious to him, for more reasons than one. But why had he gotten as mad as he had?

It occurred to Lovina that as much as he seemed to like her, he also realized the feeling wasn't mutual. But did he really think she'd do something to it? Well, she might take it, as a bargaining chip. Not now though, not yet. Maybe when they made port in Tortuga...

Her head snapped up as she heard the crew calling out, Antonio's voice among them. She stiffened, and then looked out the back window to find they were pulling alongside another ship. Gilbert's ship.

Lovina quickly folded up the map, replacing it as exactly as she could before going to the door. Whatever she'd told Antonio, she was curious. And if he was a drunk maybe she could find a way off the Delfín Rojo...

Heaving the bar out of the brackets and against the wall, Lovina pulled open the door and stepped out onto the deck. Most of the crew had gathered, and as she watched both crews threw ropes across the gap, pulling the ships closer together. Both were about the same height, and a plank was laid across them.

The first to come across was a tall man in a long, blue coat and a neat white linen shirt. He looked as though he spent a bit more money on his clothes than Antonio, but within reason. While what he had was nice, it also looked as though it'd stand the harsh conditions at sea. A wide brimmed hat as blue as his coat with a white fluffy feather was perched on his head.

Lovina was surprised when a German accented voice reached her ears. "Hey, Toni! Long time no see, mien freund."

Antonio laughed, clasping the mans shoulder. "It's good to see you too, amigo. Three months, I think? How have you been?"

"When will you learn? I'm awesome!" declared Gilbert, laughing. Lovina stiffened. "The Awesome me is doing well. Spent the last two weeks in Tortuga with gold to spare."

Lovina's jaw dropped. "What did you just call yourself?" No, this couldn't be, not him.

Everyone, even most of the crew turned to look at her. Antonio looked a little surprised, but his smile didn't waver. "Ah, Lovi, this is Gilbert. Gilbert, this is Lady Lovina Vargas."

Lovina shook her head. "No, he's not." Stabbing a finger at him she said, "You bastard! You're Lord Gilbert Belishmet! Your damn brother is trying to marry my sister!"

Gilbert was exactly what Ludwig had described, an albino who referred to himself as the 'Awesome me'. All this time she'd thought he'd been joking. Well, if she couldn't kill Ludwig, she could settle for his brother.

Meanwhile the albino looked surprised. "West? He's getting married? When? Damn, that was fast." Scratching his head he muttered, "How old is he now, anyway? Nineteen?"

"Eighteen," growled Lovina, stomping forward. The crew parted, though she was too busy fuming to think much of it. "He's eighteen and he's trying to marry my baby sister!"

"I thought you said you were twins," pointed out Antonio.

"Don't change the subject," snapped Lovina.

Gilbert grinned, and gave the strangest laugh Lovina had ever heard. "Well, find yourself a feisty one, did you Toni? She's cute."

Lovina gave him her best glower, the one she reserved for snooty ladies and scolding nurses. His grin only widened, but it wavered when Antonio chuckled. It wasn't his usual nice chuckle.

"Gil, as happy as I am to see you, if you call Lovi cute again I'm throwing you overboard."

Gilbert raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Rather he asked, "So, headed for Tortuga?"

"Sì. I take it you were just leaving?"

The albino nodded. "Ja, but I would recommend you take the long way there, mein freund."

Antonio raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Why?"

"Captain Eyebrows got there two days ago. Why do you think I left? I might be awesome, but I like my ship in one piece."

Lovina frowned. The name was new to her, but Antonio stiffened. "Is that so?"

Gilbert nodded. "I heard he was just picking up supplies, not planning on staying, but I was getting bored anyway."

"Who's Captain Eyebrows?"

"The unawesome Arthur Kirkland," answered Gilbert before Antonio could speak. Grinning at her, he pointed to his own eyebrows and said, "Trust me, fräulein. You'll know why when you see him."

"She won't be, Gilbert," said Antonio coolly.

The albino shrugged. "If you say so. By the way, heard from Franny lately?"

It was an hour before the ships finally separated. Gilbert was a chatty fellow, and while Lovina found it irritating she did learn a good bit. Most of the talk was nonsense, at least to her, but if nothing else she now had a supply of questions if Antonio wanted to play that game again.

Sure enough, as Lovina was lighting a few lanterns that night Antonio shed his gear and retrieved the brush. He sat patiently on the bed, legs crossed as he waited. Lovina gave him a dirty look, but took off the head cloth and tossed it on the desk.

"You were serious?" grumbled Lovina, climbing next to him.

Rather than answer, he handed her the brush. She took it, grumbling as she started working on her hair. It wasn't nearly as bad as it had been the night before, but though she was reluctant to admit it the familiar activity was almost soothing.

"What is your favorite color?"

Lovina frowned. "What kind of a question is that?"

"It's my question. Are you quitting already?"

She huffed. "Red."

"Why?"

"That's a new question, bastard."

Antonio chuckled. "Take your turn, then."

"Who is Francis?"

Francis, aka Franny, was apparently a mutual friend. She was under the impression he had been a pirate once himself, but now he apparently had settled down in Paris with a wife that 'kept him in line', according to Gilbert. The Joan they spoke of sounded quite fierce, Lovina wouldn't have minded meeting that one, but that could wait. What she was curious about was the pirate turned tailor.

"He is an old friend of mine."

"That's it?"

"You're going to have to be more specific, Lovi," chuckled Antonio. "Now why do you like red?"

Lovina huffed, cheeks turning pink. "It's the color of tomatoes," she grumbled.

"That's cute, Lovi," the pirate chuckled. "There's a man I've found on Tortuga that sells them. If you're good and don't try to run I'll buy you a big barrel of them."

"Feh," grumped Lovina, making a face. Even so, her mouth watered. Did he mean that? An entire barrel? Forcing herself not to think about it, she demanded, "How is it you, the albino bastard, and Franny-pants are friends?"

Antonio chuckled when she borrowed Gilbert's nickname of choice for the Frenchman. "We all ended up on Tortuga and needed to leave very quickly. It was only a matter of time before the crew found out what I had done to their captain. Gilbert had bargained his way onto a ship to get out of his home port, but apparently the idea of being a cabin boy for the next five years was 'unawesome'. Francis had flirted with the wrong lady and was on the run from her fathers' hired goons. Between the three of us we had enough to get a ship and a crew on short notice. Unfortunately having three captains on one ship didn't work for very long. After a few raids Gilbert bought a ship, and they helped me get theDelfín Rojo. Francis sailed our first ship until Kirkland sank it a few years ago."

Lovina took a minute to absorb that. It was a bit bizarre, then again so was almost everything else about her current situation. Of course considering what 'normal' was, she wasn't in any position to complain.

"What is your favorite flower?"

Frowning, she asked, "Why the hell do you want to know that?"

"No, you don't ask a question, you answer," he chuckled.

She huffed again, folding her arms. "Carnations."

"Why?"

"That's a different question," she informed him, giving him a dirty look as she set down the brush. "My turn. I get why Eyebrows hates you, but why do you hate him?"

Antonio smiled wryly. "He's been after me long enough to be a constant nuisance, and he's turned several good ports against me. He already knew Francis and they had a distaste for each other, but I still didn't appreciate him sinking his ship. Unfortunately he's one of those irritatingly competent captains, which makes him a dangerous nuisance. Now why do you like carnations?"

"Because they're usually some shade of red and aren't boring like roses."

"Elaborate."

"That's a different question."

"No, it's not. I'm asking you to expand on the current question," he chuckled.

"With roses if you want to make them interesting you have to change the color. Carnations can be plain, or have spots, or stripes, or both."

Antonio hummed thoughtfully, apparently accepting this answer.

"Why is it you're okay with the crew swilling rum, but you hide it from Gilbert?"

The pirate grimaced. "Because he doesn't stop until it runs dry or he passes out. Usually it's the first one. Rum isn't as expensive as wine, but it isn't cheap either, Lovi. That reminds me, you were very quiet after you locked yourself in here. What kept you occupied for an entire hour?"

Lovina blinked, a little surprised. Had the map really taken her an hour to work through? Thinking quickly she said, "Reading one of your books. I came out when I got bored. Why did Gilbert run away?"

"He was tired of his grandfather always pressuring him to be like Ludwig. Which book did you read?"

"That red one on the end. Was he serious about trying to make the damn wedding?"

"Of course. He might not have gotten along well with his grandfather but he always cared for Ludwig. What did you think of it?"

Lovina shrugged. "Feh, boring. Skimmed most of it. He's not going to make a scene before the ceremony, is he? If he messes things up on Feli's big day it's going to be my fault."

"Eh, I wouldn't gamble on it," said Antonio. Lovina groaned, but stiffened when he asked idly, "Are you sure it wasn't to your liking, Lovi?"

"No, why?"

She held perfectly still as he leaned in, lips a hairs breadth from her ear. "Because, Lovi, that red book on the end is an almanac written in German. Gilbert gave it to me as a joke. Tell me, how is it you didn't understand a word he said when he switched to German, yet you were able to read that?"

"I-I can't speak it, only read it, bastardo."

"Stop lying to me, Lovi. What were you doing?" he asked, an obvious warning in his voice.

"I was looking for more weapons-

"Lovina."

The word wasn't so much spoken was it was growled. Lovina flinched despite herself. Bracing for a blow, she said quietly, "I read your fathers map."

Rather than yell or hit her, as she'd expected, he leaned back. In a cool voice he ordered, "Put out the lights, Lovi. The game is over for tonight."

She quickly slipped off the bed, eager to put distance between them. She put out the lanterns slowly, but when she peeked over at the bed Antonio sat patiently, face calm. He didn't look nearly as mad as she'd feared he would be, but she was still reluctant to return to the bed.

As she edged back over to it he leaned back on his elbows, patting the blankets. "Come on, Lovi. Time to sleep."

Slowly, reluctantly, she obeyed. Lovina climbed back onto the bed, but curled up on the far edge, back to Antonio. She heard him sigh, and went ridged as he pulled her into the middle of the bed. The pirate settled down at her back, one arm around her waist.

"You must never tell anyone of that map, Lovi," he told her, his voice soft. "Besides my memories, it is all I have left of my father. If people knew I had a map with the sea's secrets, they would want it. It is more precious to me than any gold. I'm not happy you disobeyed me, but I won't punish you for it. All I ask is that you keep it secret."

Lovina said nothing, staring at the shadowed walls long after Antonio had fallen asleep, his arm going limp around her waist. Her mind churned even as she found herself nodding off, thoughts flying to and fro. She still wanted to get off the ship as soon as she could, but the idea of seeing the pirate tried and convicted didn't hold the appeal it once had. Yes she still knew what he was, a pirate, a thief and a murderer, yet the longer she stayed here, the more that monster she'd heard tale of faded. How was she supposed to help Nonno catch and hang someone who she knew to be more human than most of the nobles she'd grown up around?

Mein freund- my friend

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